DRC PARLIAMENT: LUTUNDULA ADVOCATES AMBITIOUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001758 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EFIN KCOR KDEM CG SUBJECT: DRC PARLIAMENT: LUTUNDULA ADVOCATES AMBITIOUS REFORMS ¶1. (U) Summary: Longtime Congolese parliamentarian Christophe Lutundula outlined his legislative priorities for the new National Assembly in a November 8 meeting with EmbOffs. Lutundula advocates broad reforms and scrutiny of contracts in the natural resources sector, as well as stringent measures for identifying public sector corruption. His initial priorities include legislation on the opposition, judiciary, public finance, and provincial autonomy. End summary. ¶2. (U) Longtime DRC parliamentarian Christophe Lutundula, chairman of the National Assembly's Ad Hoc Internal Rules Committee, discussed his legislative priorities in a November 8 meeting with EmbOffs. Lutundula, a senior member of President Joseph Kabila's Alliance for the Presidential Majority (AMP),expressed hopes for a robust, transparent, and innovative Assembly. He plans to focus on increasing transparency and accountability particularly in the natural resources sector, where he has positioned himself to take a leading role. -------------- LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS -------------- ¶3. (U) Lutundula's proposals for urgent legislation are ambitious. He suggested that during the first months of the new government the National Assembly focus on: laws defining the role of the opposition; organizational and administrative laws to support the autonomy of the provinces; revision of existing finance laws, especially those relating to the autonomy of provinces; and laws formalizing re-organization of the judiciary. ¶4. (U) Lutundula is also concerned about public sector transparency and accountability. He stressed that he is a strong proponent of anti-corruption measures. He noted that in past DRC regimes, "members of the government were above the law." He proposed that all politicians be required to file financial disclosure statements detailing all assets upon entering and exiting public office, in order to restrict them from overtly profiting from their positions. -------------- NATURAL RESOURCES -------------- ¶5. (U) Lutundula said a report on government contracts issued by a committee he chaired in the transitional parliament will form one basis of future legislative work on the natural resources sector. Committee members reviewed 60 of the GDRC,s contracts during the period 1996-2003, primarily in the natural resources sector, for a World Bank-funded report. The committee finalized its conclusions in June 2005, but its report, which named several prominent politicians and government officials, was never formally debated, reportedly due to political pressure. ¶6. (U) Lutundula told us he will work for the parliament to create an independent oversight commission for the sector. He said the main problem is enforcement of existing laws such as the mining code, and monitoring government contracts with concession holders. The commission would review proposed agreements and their implementation, and help ensure that proceeds from mining activities are channeled back to the provinces for social development. He proposed that it have independent powers, 15-17 members, consult with international experts and receive support for multilateral and bilateral donors. ¶7. (SBU) Lutundula's ideas about addressing illegal export of resources on-the-ground are less developed than those focused on preventing corruption at the contractual level. He acknowledged the GDRC does not currently have the capacity to stop smuggling at its borders, in part because the military and police are not ready for the task. He suggested neighboring countries and the DRC work together to develop industry guidelines similar to those of the OECD, and that each participating country promulgate these as national legislation. -------------- COMMENT -------------- KINSHASA 00001758 002 OF 002 ¶8. (U) Lutundula is well respected and appears committed to taking on the difficult issues of corruption and graft. His agenda, for example on corruption and the natural resources sector, demonstrates he has his finger on some of the international community's hot-button issues, but he must first sell it to the National Assembly. His priorities may be overly ambitious, and the Assembly is unlikely to approve any new legislation until January, but on November 14 the 51-member committee he chairs agreed on a proposal for a permanent commission on illegally-acquired property to reassure investors concerned about expropriation or compensation. End comment. -------------- BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE -------------- ¶9. (U) Lutundula began his career as a magistrate, worked as Director of the Center of International Commerce, progressed to Counselor of the Department of National Economy and Industry, and worked as the Director of the Petroleum Enterprise of Zaire before serving as Deputy Speaker of Parliament under Mobutu in 1992. He was a member of parliament during the transition, and was elected to the new National Assembly from Eastern Kasai in July 2006. He enjoys a close relationship with former National Assembly President Olivier Kamitatu, who is currently affiliated with President Kabila's legislative alliance. MEECE